The CFO Show

Latest Episodes:

Selling the Story: Docebo’s CFO Recounts the Journey Post IPO Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

An IPO is a major milestone in the history of any company. But what happens after the debut?

A company’s life after an IPO can be a broad and significant shift from cultural transitions to systems and process changes that impact everyone from entry and mid-level employees to executives in the C-Suite, including the CFO. Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Sukaran Mehta, former Chief Financial Officer at global learning platform Docebo, as he traces the company’s post-IPO journey.

Discussed in This Episode:

Understanding and selling the company story
Adapting new day-to-day systems and processes
Helping employees acclimate to a new culture
Nurturing and growing relationships with investors
Advice for CFO’s post-IPO

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

How Finance Teams Will Evolve in the Coming Year Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

The new year is quickly approaching, and after 2023 being the year of AI and economic uncertainty, who knows what 2024 will bring? With more uncertainty on the horizon, including inflation and interest rate fluctuations, predicting the financial landscape in 2024 is a tricky proposition. Nevertheless, preparing for the road ahead is a crucial component of a CFO’s role.

Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller break down their predictions of not only the future of finance but also how finance teams will adapt and evolve in 2024.

Discussed in This Episode:

Interest rates, inflation, the funding climate, and a potential recession
How geopolitical uncertainty will impact the finance world
AI and how it will influence the reallocation of tasks and talent
The rise of efficiency and operational excellence
The ongoing importance of organizational design

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Finance’s Role in Getting the 1st Down With CFO of the Kansas City Chiefs Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Picture a football game: the quarterback drops back to scan the field, reads the defense, and fires a pass to an open receiver. Touchdown! Now picture a CFO: the quarterback of a finance team, reading the economic landscape, assessing risks, and making smart, decisive moves that score major wins for their organization.

The parallels between finance and football run deep. Both professions involve teamwork, competition, practice, adaptability, and pressure. To unpack the similarities, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller welcome Dan Crumb, CFO of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, to the show. As Dan explains, football and finance might be different, but success in both requires the same ingredients.

Discussed in This Episode:

How finance and football approach team-building
The equivalent of winning a Super Bowl in finance
What we can learn from coaches about rallying our teams
Keys to effective communication and teamwork
Why both types of teams must plan for every scenario

Resources:

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

People Metrics That Matter Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Businesses today spend an average of 52% of their budget on their workforce. Some go as high as 70%. The expense is worth it, of course, as the only way to true financial success is by having the right talent. But given this enormous cost, it’s worth asking: are the people metrics you’re tracking the ones that will make the biggest impact on your business? Or are you missing out on the full potential of your workforce?

To help us understand the people metrics that matter, Melissa Howatson welcomes RJ Milnor to the show. RJ is the Founder and CEO of People Analytics Partners and was formerly the Global Head of People Analytics at Uber. Through his research and experience, RJ has uncovered some remarkable insights and truths about the way we work, how it’s evolved post-pandemic, and what the future of work looks like.

Discussed in This Episode:

The surest indicator of high-value employees
What to analyze to see how your M&A integration is going
A viable replacement for productivity-killing meetings
How to get the greatest ROI out of office spaces
One word of advice for leaders to be more effective

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Avoid the Pitfalls of Year-End Financial Close Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

As each year draws to a close, CFOs are gearing up for one of the most critical tasks in their financial calendar: the year-end financial close. There are key areas to focus on and best practices to ensure this process goes smoothly… but what happens when it doesn’t? More importantly, what is it that trips finance teams up at the last minute?

To explore the ins and outs of year-end close, hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Benno van Ingen, Lead Consultant CFO Tech, Finext. Benno has served in various financial roles over the past 20 years, giving him extensive experience with corporate financial processes and firsthand insight into how things can go awry.

Discussed in This Episode:

How an organization is hampered by a lackluster year-end close
The specific pitfalls that finance teams want to avoid
Ways to mitigate the time crunch associated with this process
Legacy tools and systems that can prevent a successful close

Episode Resources:

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Building a Finance Tech Stack That Works for Your Organization Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

Agility and efficiency are more important than ever for finance teams, which places an outsized importance on the quality of an organization’s tech stack. A good finance tech stack can help you automate tasks, improve visibility into your data, and make better decisions.
But with a plethora of options out there, building and implementing the right tech stack for your organization can be difficult. To help you know what to expect at every step of this journey, Melissa Howatson welcomes William Liang, Managing Director at ProLytics Consulting Group, to the show. Over the past 13 years, William has provided world-class planning and forecasting services solutions in a wide variety of industries, including financial services.
Join us as we discuss:

Sorting through a crowded fintech space to find the right option
Who to engage with to make tech decisions for your organization
Mistakes that can hinder digital transformation efforts
Personnel requirements to ensure a smooth implementation
How decision-makers should think about integrating their systems

Additional resources:
How To Build a Finance Tech Stack That Works for You: https://bit.ly/3PuS4FF

Navigating the CFO-CEO-Board Relationship Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

In today’s business landscape, the relationship between the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors is a pivotal axis that can either drive an organization to new heights or lead it astray.

To better understand the intricacies of this relationship, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller enlist the help of someone with a unique point of view: Kim Eaton, Operating Managing Director at

Vista Equity Partners. Kim has served as both a CEO and a board member, giving her unique insights into what causes this relationship to flourish (and what makes it fall apart).

Discussed in This Episode:

How CFOs can help build a shared trust with their CEO and board
Tips for managing a productive board meeting
Handling disagreements in a way that preserves relationships
The importance of pre-meeting touch points (e.g. the board dinner)
Traits of the most effective CFOs from the board’s perspective

Episode Resources:

Managing Your Relationship as the CFO With the CEO and Board of Directors

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

The CFO's Path to the CEO's Office Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Every career path is unique. For many CFOs, though, their paths share a common destination: the CEO’s office. What does the journey from CFO to CEO look like?

This transition requires more than mastering the balance sheets. Being a CEO demands a unique blend of strategic vision, leadership finesse, and a fearless appetite for risk. To give us a firsthand perspective of this shift, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Lincoln Greenidge, CEO of Sandfire Resources Americas Inc. Lincoln, who’s spent 35 years climbing the ranks of finance and FP&A across six industries, shares the opportunities and challenges that arose as part of his transition from CFO to CEO.

Discussed in This Episode:

The new skills CFOs need to succeed as CEO
Unforeseen challenges that new CEOs should watch out for
How leadership styles evolve in your new role
Specific areas of development CFOs should focus on

Episode Resources:

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

2024 Annual Budget Planning Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

2023 was a roller coaster for finance professionals, and with a potential recession looming, the storms don’t look to calm down anytime soon. This means annual budget planning takes on an added importance as they look ahead to 2024.

Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller discuss the issues that should be top of mind for CFOs and reinforce the importance of scenario planning. Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Delbridge Solutions, Inc., shares his best practices for planning ahead in uncertain times.

Discussed in This Episode:

Projections and expectations for the economy in 2024
Actions that companies should take now to prepare
How leaders can create an environment of stability and trust
Ways to balance financial constraints with talent retention

Episode Resources:

The Ultimate Guide to Corporate Budgeting

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

Better Business Partners: Finance and the Office of the CIO Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

There’s an underrated skill that seasoned CFOs have mastered: forging partnerships with other C-suites across the organization. One of the most vital partners for finance teams is the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Together, these teams can drive efficiency with technology, mitigate risks, and make strategic investments.

To understand what a successful business partnership with the Office of CIO looks like, and what factors often get in the way, Melissa Howatson talks with Johan Dowdy, Global Head of IT and IT Security at Asana.

Discussed in This Episode:

How IT has evolved over the years to be more strategic
The value of listening before offering suggestions (not just prescribing)
One of the most common pain points in the CFO-CIO partnership
Considering ROI and long-term payback on all programmatic spend
How to achieve smoother operations and more accurate reporting

Episode Resources:

For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

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